Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger is hoping for a new documentary, Nickelback: Hate for Lovewill put to rest any discussion of the reaction the band has received over the years.
And if not, they won’t weigh anymore. “I’m over it,” the 48-year-old told PEOPLE and other media on Friday at the Toronto Film Festival, which hosted the film’s world premiere.
Although the rockers are wildly successful, big hits like “How You Remind Me” and “Photograph,” the Grammy-nominated musicians have become something of a talking point for comedians and others over the years.
The documentary, directed by Leigh Brooks, doesn’t shy away from showing that part of the band’s history—and the title even draws on the subject.
Brooks follows Nickelback’s rise from humble beginnings in Alberta, Canada to international superstardom. He documents how, after soaring to incredible heights in the mid-2000s, they became the subject of cruel jokes just as social media began to gain popularity.
Chad Kroeger performed in California in July.
Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
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“These guys paved the way for all of us to be abused online,” Brooks told PEOPLE at the premiere.
The documentary includes visuals of memes that labeled the rockers “Nickelhack” and clips of comedians disparaging the band, including Brian Posehn, who joked on Comedy Central: “No one talks about the studies that show bad music makes people violent. Like, Nickelback makes me want to kill Nickelback.”
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Bassist Michael Kroeger, 51, brother of singer Chad, attributes the hate to what he calls Tall Poppy Syndrome. “When the tall poppy gets too tall, someone has to cut it down and everyone is willing to step in, especially if they can be anonymous cowards,” he told PEOPLE.
Chad was initially reluctant to discuss that part of the story in the film, but bandmate Ryan Peake, 50, convinced him otherwise.
“We can take the narrative. We have to actually tell our side—it’s like you turn your cheek as far as you can, and then at some point it’s like, here’s our take on it,” Peake said.
When PEOPLE asked him why he hesitates to talk about negativity, Chad got passionate. He took this journalist’s recorder and held it as if conducting an interview.
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“If someone shoved that thing in your face every day and said, ‘The whole world hates you like this, the whole world hates you. What do you have to say about it? Every day. Every day. Would you be reluctant to talk about it on your behalf? Would you get angry? Would you get over it after a while?”
Sam answered his own question. “I’m over it,” he continued.
“We made a documentary, everyone can watch it. And now from this day forward, if someone asks that question in the press, it’s like that’s the end of the interview. So if you want to end the interview, that’s all you have to say and that will be it,” he said.
Nickelback: Hate for Love no release date.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education